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Since 2002 we have been exploring our vision. It is an exciting and evolving process by which the mission of God’s church is being worked out in our town and beyond. It has three aspects, in bold italic print, and each aspect has a number of milestones, which are given below.
To develop as a community of the Christian faith.
To have resources to enable us to deepen our life of prayer.
To identify the needs of those aged under 16 and their families and to make provision for them.
To offer a range of ways for people to explore the Christian faith.
To ensure a warm welcome is given to those who join us for worship.
To have opportunities for us to enjoy ourselves and grow in friendship.
To have at least one event each year for those who encounter St Mary’s at funerals, weddings and baptisms.
To explore the needs of those over the age of 60.
To provide opportunities for all to engage in Christian service in our church, such as bell ringing, singing, cleaning, stewarding, serving on the PCC, etc.
To be at the heart of the local community.
To have the building as open as often as possible.
To have agreed proposals to re-order our church for the 21st century.
To have funded and completed at least the first phase of the Church Development project.
To have a space that is welcoming to young children and their families.
To build a reputation as hosts for a wide range of artistic and cultural events.
To develop our links with community organisations.
To provide a haven for peace and prayer.
To offer a range of church services for our community.
To host a range of social occasions.
To offer space for meetings, social and cultural occasions.
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To serve the wider community of Bridgwater and beyond.
To develop our relationship with our links parishes in Zambia from a basis of prayer and letter to personal engagement.
To become an accredited Eco-congregation.
To have resources to assist those in need.
To support the mission of the church at deanery, diocesan and national level.
To take the church to those unable to attend worship.
To make our building and our vision more widely known.
To have a positive profile in the local media.
To appoint a Facilities Officer to co-ordinate church bookings and usage.
To host the National YMCA Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving in 2010.
Saint Mary’s Women’s Fellowship has been long established. It meets fortnightly in church to hear guest speakers, and outings are arranged in the summer.
Three house groups run, two throughout the year. In these we undertake a series of study workshops to increase our knowledge of our faith. Weekly meetings take place during Advent and Lent, while during the summer they become monthly. One group organises a summer barbecue on the Quantocks.
The Thursday Lunch team continue to open the church to the community every Thursday morning, from 11.30 -1. 00 pm, for refreshments and fellowship; they have now raised over £10,000 for Christian Aid. In September we open Saint Mary’s for Heritage Days, and on Carnival day in November we are open all day for rest and refreshments; any profit we make is sent to our Zambia link parish.
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